Sweet Vengeance 2013, this is a movie that lightened my load

[siligut]

Trailer:

In the late 1800s, a fanatical religious leader, a renegade Sheriff, and a former prostitute collide in a blood triangle on the rugged plains of the New Mexico Territory. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2224004/

This film is written and directed by Logan and Noah Miller (who also act in it) and shows a true representation of the early and extreme behavior of the Mormons and their mission to populate the West. Jason Isaacs plays the creepy, patriarchal prophet and Ed Harris is his nemesis and I know not everyone appreciates Ed Harris the way I do, but his crazy sheriff portrayal has such panache.

I say it lightened my load because I met men in Utah who still carry the crazy notions expressed by the male characters and even though it is set in the past, any exposure at all of the American Taliban is valuable to me. It might be called revenge porn, but like the movie Inglourious Basterds, it provides an inkling of much needed satisfaction.

I considered putting this in the Movie group, but it doesn't quite match their SOP and I wanted to be sure anyone concerned with patriarchal abuse would see it.

[Little_Wing]

1. Thank you for the heads up, siligut

I will be on the lookout for this film for sure. Unfortunately I can't do Netflix, but our super cool local video rental store just might have it at some point. P.S. I love Ed Harris too, he's one of the best actors around.

[siligut]

2. The whole movie is on Youtube

The second video in my OP. It did just come out on DVD a week or so ago too. Good to see another Ed Harris fan, he is quite enjoyable in this.

[Squinch]

3. This was kind of fascinating, but I can't say I liked it exactly.

Her behavior was the same behavior we see from men in a thousand classic Westerns, killing to avenge the murder of the person she loves. On the one hand, it was almost hypnotic to watch a woman killing almost casually, as men in Westerns (and in many action/adventure movies) have always killed. On the other, it made it even clearer how grotesque that killing is.

Also, the fact that she had to put on makeup and a gaudy dress to do it said something, though I'm not sure what.

Ed Harris was great.

Thanks for a way to spend a couple of hours while I am SICK WITH THE DAMN FLU!

[siligut]

4. Aw Squinch, sorry to hear you have that damn flu

Stay warm, take NSAIDs if you tolerate them, with lots of fluids and Zinc and Vitamin C and personally I think elderberry helps. I tend to watch children's movies when I am sick, the Ice Age series and Brave being my favorites.

I have two takes on why she wore the dress. Maybe it represented a part of her protest, it was part of who she was and wanted to show that she was good with it, she wanted to rub it in their faces. Maybe, in the same vein, she donned it to become a different person, not the married woman who was trying to make a life with the man she loved, the man the prophet murdered, but the hardhearted woman who had been used and abused by men and came up stronger and colder.

It is revenge porn, I know and revenge so often involves killing.

Take care

[Squinch]

5. Thanks, siligut. I will take all of your advice. The movie is sticking with me, and

I think it's one that I will be thinking about for a while. Which is interesting, too, because it didn't get any notice and I noticed the reviews were not good (except a few from women!)

The reversal of roles highlights so much about the roles!

[siligut]

6. I hope you are feeling better

Some suggest that a positive mood is good for the immune system. Maybe you could stick to happy films or children's movies like I do when I am sick.

I am sure the Mormons did their best to keep the film from getting too much attention, they are very conscious of what the public sees. That is why I was so happy to see it was on Youtube.

You are so right about gender stereotypes in the movies. Good guys kill for justice and bad guys kill for greed, but women in movies usually kill because they are weak, greedy or crazy.

Sarah Ramirez killed for defense, justice and retribution. The scene where the prophet had sent his obedient wives to kill Sarah even though they were worthless with a gun was layered. First their obedience to a crazy man, then calling Sarah a whore and bitch of Satan while trying to commit murder and finally Sarah allowing the young, unarmed female to run on home. It was a little contrived, but Noah Miller made it a point to have Sarah kill only in defense of herself or of others, like the child in the dressing room.

[Squinch]

7. Thanks for asking, siligut! I am STILL at home, still no voice! But the fever is gone

and I no longer feel like there is a porcupine in my throat.

I am glad you wrote, because I keep thinking about the movie. It is such a classic Western, with just that one twist of having her be a woman, and that changes everything so profoundly. And even though they were very careful to make her killings "justifiable" in the terms of the classic Western, it was so disturbing and seemed so wrong.

There was, though, that vicarious revenge appeal, but even that was dark and very conflicting. I wonder if men watching classic westerns feel that same conflict, and I suspect not or they wouldn't be so popular.

And THEN, you think through her options, and there were none. She wasn't going to survive if those men were allowed to live. So why does it feel so wrong? I also can't imagine her story going forward. She's going to get caught by the Ed Harris character.

The more I think about it, the better a movie it seems to me. I think I'll have to watch it again.

Thanks again!

[siligut]

8. "Porcupine" in your throat?

I am glad your throat feels better, that sounds awful. I would have suggested warm salt water gargles, maybe you could try them anyway, at least until your voice returns.

You will see when you watch again, the sheriff will not be coming after her. She has her money and she is capable, so she can move on. That is important to the story, she isn't going to be punished.

Your honesty has made me aware of something that I wouldn't have examined otherwise. Thank you.

Stay warm.

[redqueen]

9. Oh my goodness, I didn't know you were so sick!

Glad to hear you're on the mend now at least.

I think my daughter might have what you're getting over... good times.

[Squinch]

10. Ugh. Its the worst. Thanks for the hug. I actually did do everything Siligut recommended

and it seemed to work. That and lots of steam and baths.

It started Wednesday during work. Yesterday was bad, but today much better.

I hope your daughter feels better, poor baby.